Filming a funeral

New_Zealand

New_Zealand

Veteran
I just got a call from a funeral home wanting to know if I can come and film a funeral for them. Not much notice but will do it. Anyway I shoot on the HVX at 720p/24 and this only gives me 42 minutes. Has anyone else filmed a funeral before? I need to know what other setting might be good to give me more filming time. They said the service is only 30 minutes but we all know that it will be longer. Thanks
 
The only way you'll get more (continuous) recording time, if you have only the one card, is if you shoot DV (or DVCPRO 25, which is more or less the same thing).

Or, if you have software which will do it, you can stream out through firewire to a laptop and record to a hard drive.
 
I've had mixed results with the reliability of firewire recording, also this means that you are going to be much less portable. I'd reccomend investing in another P2 card and the USB P2 card reader from panasonic. With this combo you can continuously record in HD because offloading a card take less time than filling one up.
 
I shoot about 10 funerals a year, use SD DVCPro 25, lets face it your only going to dump it to DVD, HD is overkill, (pardon the pun) and you'll only run upto 10 disc's, Charge between 400 and 700 depending on level of difficulty, and the standing of the departed. make any movements you do slow and deliberate, do not stand in front of anyone, get to your position early and most mourners will give you space anyway.
mic the lecturn or mic stand don't run cables. get in and out fast, don't do in your face close ups.
and above all do not show any emotions your self either way...look like an undertaker.
after you've shot 6 or so you'll be a pro. be also aware some people will have strong words to you about your ethics videoing a funeral, always best to get the priest to tell everyone at the beginning of the service that the video is being shot for a relative or whatever...that will calm the mourners and stop them from attacking you.
finally buy rent or borrow more cards to do your shooting, you only have to buy them once..

goodluck
tom4
 
Soo... your gonna film a funeral. Never done one of those before. My wife had a photo job doing one, strange for us too because she is a fashion photographer.
Anyhow, your planning on shooting CONTINUOS? I would think anyone in their right mind would want a summary...beautiful shots, a few key moments, loads of small details. But really? An entire continuous recording of the event?
Id ask the clients what their personal preference is. Also look into renting a 2nd camera. Just place it at a key position, then the free camera would be covering all those key moments and small details. Cutting between the 2 cameras, you could have a continuous recording of the entire event.
 
I read this threead a week or so ago thinking it would be strange to film a funeral / memorial. Well I got a call today asking me to film one this weekend, no editing or cleaning up, just raw footage. I am concerned about this as they may not realize watching raw footage is not the same as watching something while being there. I was planning to offer an edit in the future if they desire or do you think it would be best to not broach the subject ?
 
I'd clean it up too... anything that I put out, i usually would cut out the unstable or poorly lit scenes. Add a little contrast and maybe "auto coloring". But if they want RAW, I wouldn't put too much thought into the "look" of the final material.
Maybe get a better idea of the client's expectations, before worrying about the final material. As I doubt the exposure, for the RAW material will be to a very wide audience.
 
At first they wanted me to record straight to DVD but I am not equiped to do that, plus I am going to get a live audio feed as well as a few others so all the stuff will be there if they want me to I can still clean it up a bit. No effects though or explosions or fire, too bad though because that is what I would want on mine.
 
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